Czech Embassy in Luxembourg Hosts Statehood Day Reception

On Thursday 28 September 2023, the Czech Embassy in Luxembourg hosted a reception to mark Czech Statehood Day, in the presence of members of the diplomatic corps (ambassadors) and diplomats from other resident missions in the Grand Duchy, as well as the Representation of the European Commission in Luxembourg.

Czech Statehood Day, celebrated as a public holiday in Czechia each year on 28 September, is associated with Wenceslas I, Duke of Bohemia, who was posthumously declared the nation's patron saint.

On Thursday evening, the Czech Ambassador to Luxembourg, Vladimír Bärtl, invited his fellow ambassadors and other diplomats to a reception at the former Pierre Werner House in Luxembourg-Limpertsberg (home to the Czech Embassy since 2006). The guest list also included MPs and representatives of Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the Luxembourg Army, the Grand Ducal Court, the European institutions, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), business chambers and international schools, as well as members of the expatriate community, among others.

After welcoming the guests, Ambassador Bärtl invited members of the Luxembourg-based Confrérie du chant traditionnel (the Czech Ambassador is also a member) and a large choir, Mendík, from České Budějovice to recite the Czech and Luxembourg anthems.

Afterwards, the Ambassador announced that although he would have liked to perform the European anthem (Ode to Joy), particularly in the current situation where "one European country is facing aggression from its neighbour", he had chosen a different programme. In this context, he thanked Luxembourg and other European and like-minded countries for their united stand in support of Ukraine. He warned that if Ukraine does not receive the support it needs to liberate its entire territory, the conflict risked escalating: "Let us not ignore the lessons of history. Did it stop Hitler when he got Czechoslovakia?" He also addressed the Ukrainian representatives present (LUkraine representatives Nicolas Zharov and Inna Yaremenko and Luxembourg's Honorary Consul to Ukraine, Claude Radoux), noting that there would be an opportunity to sing the Ode to Joy with them one day; on this occasion, as a token of support, the Confrérie du chant traditionel and the Mendík choir performed the Ukrainian national anthem.

After the opening anthems, the Czech Ambassador briefly recalled that he was hosting what would probably be his last reception on this national holiday, as he would be ending his mission in Luxembourg next year. He took the opportunity to praise Luxembourg and its work on a European and global scale, saying: "Luxembourg is one of the most open countries, something that one of the first true Europeans, John the Blind, would have appreciated" (John the Blind was once Count of Luxembourg and King of Bohemia and so had links to both today's Czechia and the Grand Duchy). Ambassador Bärtl thanked his family and the whole Czech Embassy team for sharing the Luxembourg story together. His final thanks went to Losch, which he described as "a tireless promoter" of the Czech automotive industry, not only during the recently concluded Škoda Tour de Luxembourg, but on an ongoing basis. One of Škoda's newest models - the Enyaq iV - was on display for guests to view during the reception.

The Mendík choir continued to perform throughout the evening and the students' energy was transferred to the evening's guests. The Czech reception also included quality beer, traditionally provided by the Pilsner (Plzeň) Region; both Pilsner Urquell and Bohemia Prestige sparkling wine were served on this relaxed evening.

(Photo credit: Barbora Wellens)